Catclaw Solar and Energy Storage Project Acquired by D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments

Avantus has successfully sold the Catclaw Solar and Energy Storage Project, located in Buckeye, Arizona, to D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI). This project features up to 225 MW of solar capacity and 250 MW/1,000 MWh of energy storage, along with a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Arizona Public Service (APS).

Avantus handled the greenfield development, including interconnection, site acquisition, permitting, and negotiations with APS, as well as the procurement of critical equipment, including batteries. Jason Moretz, Ph.D., Executive Vice President of Development at Avantus, emphasized the project’s potential to deliver economic and environmental benefits to Arizona, particularly in managing power demands during heatwaves.

The Catclaw project, expected to go online in 2026, is the fourth collaboration between Avantus and DESRI. It is projected to create approximately 325 construction jobs and generate tax revenue for the City of Buckeye and Maricopa County. Moreover, the project is anticipated to offset over 470,000 tons of CO₂ annually, equivalent to removing around 100,000 gas-powered vehicles from the road.

Innovatively designed to minimize disruption to natural drainage patterns and wildlife corridors, the project demonstrates Avantus’s commitment to sustainable energy development. With a growing portfolio across the Southwest, Avantus is also developing one of the largest pipelines of solar and energy storage projects in the U.S., comprising 30 GW of solar and 94 GWh of storage capacity.